Process for the production of a fertilizer containing potassium and nitrogen



Patented Sept. 1, 1925.

BIRGER FJELDHALVOR SEN AND {DYSTEIN RAVNEB, OF 'CHRISTIANIA, NORWAY, AS-

' v SIG'NORS TO NORSK HYDRO-ELEKTRISK TEN 7, :GHRISTIANIA, NORWAY.

KVAELST QFAKTIESELSKAB, OF SOLLIGA- p v l V 4 PRocEssroR .THE rnonuorron'or A FERTILIZER coNTAInINGro'rAssIUM Am) NITROGEN. w

No Drawing.

- In order t6 produce fertilizers that con tain both potassium; and nitrogen, potassic and nitrogenous manures are mixed to-' gether, for, with the exception of nitrate ofpotassium, there is no product that con- 1 tains a sufiicient quantity of these in gredients, Nitrate of'potassium, onaccount of its comparatively high cost.- can hardly be used to any great extent asa "fertilizer.

According to the present invention a' fertilizer containingpotassium and nitrogen can be produced by using potassic rock which is easily decomposed and nitric'acid, whereby a product can be straightaway obtained that is dry, easily pulverized and easy tostrew. The use of leucite and rock containing leucite has proved specially advantageous as it can easily be decomposed in nitric acid and it produces a non-hygroscopic fertilizer.

For instance, ,ifusing a leucit e containing 18 per cent potassium calculated as K' Oj (100 parts by -weight) .and' decomposing it I with nitric acid ofi60 per cent (173 parts become solidified and wi v j per cent ofpotassium calculated as K 0 and 8.2 per cent'ofnitrjoge'n'." '..A less concentrated nitricacidcanal'so be -employed. Nitric T acid of per jc ent, (g22 'parts byweight)- will roduee- 'a product suitable for 'strewing and containing about-5.6 per cent of potassium-calculated aS .K O and" about concentrated leucite, raw material containing about 11- er cent .ofpota-ssium calcuployed with acid a o When usmg acid of 45 percent (162 pa by weight) and unconcentrated Ileucite, a-

by weight), the; solution. when cooled, willi1 contain about 6.6-

,7per cent ofnitrogen. If, instead of using Application filed-June 25, 1923. Serial ms. 647,743.

product is acquired that, contains about 4.2 per cent of potassium calculated as .K O and about 5.2 per cent of nitrogen.

The process is very simply performed,

finely pulverizedrock being added to the is being i stirred,

into hard substance.

In order t increase the content of potasslum and nitrogen in the substance, it may,

necessary quantity of acid, while thelatter The solution is then. emptied 'into solidifying chambers Where,

when the reaction is at an end, it stifiens with advantage, be subjected to a drying process. The substance will yield water as a large part of the water in the nitric acid is partly combined with the silicic acid that has been separated in the form of acolloid,

"and is partly crystal water. When lying .pulverized in the air the substance will gradually dry by itself. I The drying process can, however, be quickened by means of artificial heating. In order to enrich the substance in nitrogen and to avoid any loss'of nitric acid during storage, ammonia gas may advantageously be introduced into it. Am-

monia gas will then precipitate thetrivalent metals forming the ammonium nitrate and hydroxides. Such a product can also be.

mixed, withoutfear of a reversion of the phosphoric acid, with phosphoric fertilizers.

In. order to produce .a more highly concentrated potassic and nitrogenous fertilizer the solidified substance can be heated to about 300 whereby, for instance, nitrate of.

aluminium and of iron are separated. By

means of lixiviating the" remaining substance. and by crystallization, a pure nitrate of potassium can be obtained. T We claim: 1. Process for the direct production of a fertilizer containing potassium and nitrogen consisting in mixing together. easily decomposable potassio rock and nitric acid, the latter of such aconcentr'ation and in such a substantial but limited quantity that after the reaction a solid substance is obtainedthat can be pulverized.

v2;- Processfor the direct production of a;

fertilizer containing potassium and nitrogen consisting in the mixing togetherof rock containing leucite' with nitric acid, the latter of such a concentration and 'insuh a substantial but-limited quantitythat after the reaction a solid substance that can be.

consisting in mixing togethereasilyrdecom posable potassic rock and nitr1c acid the latter of such a concentration and in su'cha substantial but limitedquantity that after the reaction a solid substance is obtained that can be pulverized, and drying the sub: stance at a high temperature.

4. Process for the direct production of a fertilizer containing potassium and nitrogen consisting in mixing'together easily decomposable potassic rock and nitric acid the latter of such aconcentration and in such a substantial but limited quantity that after the reaction 'a solid substance is obtained that can be pulverized, and drying the substance in the presence of ammonia gas.

# -5. Process for the direct production of a fertilizer containing potassium and nitrogen consisting in mixing together easily decon1-' I posable potassic rock and nitric acid the lat-- decomposing nitrate of aluminium'and lix-' iviating the nitrate of potassium.

In testimony whereof, we aflix our signatures.

BIRGER FJELDHALVORSENJ (DYSTEIN RAv-NER. a 

